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Amelia could sense the noose tightening. She had neither the time nor the energy for it. These people were a threat in their own right. Ingrid, whose life she'd saved, was eyeing her the way a dog eyed a steak on the table. Desmond's hand upon her was... far more threatening than comforting. He was trying to hide some kind of signal behind his back. She'd almost missed it, but she'd grown up around hidden meanings and whispered messages. She shrugged him off and backed away. Her eyes darted warily about. [color=0054a6][b]"You're all about to turn on me, aren't you?"[/b][/color] she said defiantly, backing away. [color=0054a6][b]"But you're... [i]not [/i]Prospero's people,"[/b][/color] she thought aloud, eyes wide and brow furrowed. She glanced about at the corpses and then back at the threatening group. [b][color=0054a6]"...[i]They [/i]were."[/color][/b] She stood there for a moment, haunted. [color=0054a6][b]"...How?"[/b][/color] she practically mouthed. Amelia paced tightly then, a few steps each way before remembering that she was not among friends. [color=0054a6][b]"Tell me, honestly,"[/b][/color] she demanded, whirling to look at Desmond. [color=0054a6][b]"Were you truly sent to rescue me, and by whom?"[/b][/color]

[color=gold][b]"We [i]are [/i]from Ersand'Enise. We were sent here by Paradigm Hunghorasz to do three things-"[/b][/color] Desmond stepped forward with a cold expression, losing all trace of emotion, much more like a mask as he spoke in a calm and commanding tone, seeming to hide a growing sense of anger, [color=gold][b]"-rescue Princes Amelea of Segona, retrieve the possible artifact the Maria Nera has, and kill the Captain."[/b][/color]

As he stepped forward he looked down on her, only his eyes breaking his mask-like expression, as they seemed to relay every emotion he felt. He continued, [color=gold][b]"We lost one of our people, another one is confirmed dead, and I have not trusted you since the moment I met you. So you tell me how I would react?"[/b][/color] 

[color=0054a6][b]"Goddammit, now's not the time![/b][/color] she shouted, rubbing at her temples and half turning. [color=0054a6][b]"I mean: yes. Yes, I lied. I thought [i]you[/i] were lying. I know my uncle - Prospero, that throne-stealing slimy eel - has friends at the school. At first, I thought you were just some useful idiot who might be an ally, but once you said you were from there and it was too late to just run, and I thought you were working for him, for sure. I was going to lose you in the city - fake my own death. I had... people who were going to distract you."[/b][/color] She pulled her hands back from her face nervously, opening and clasping them, as if she didn't quite know what to do. [b][color=0054a6]"Oh Gods, oh Dami, oh [i]Eshiran[/i]!"[/color][/b] She pivoted to take them all in. [b][color=0054a6]"I have been less than forthright. I apologize. Truly, I'm sorry, but there is still a chance to salvage the situation,"[/color][/b] she continued desperately. She took a deep quick breath and exhaled. [b][color=0054a6]"My uncle, Prospero Malatesta, was to be my regent after my father and brother died. I was ten. You know the rest. He took over. He rules Segona like it's an extension of his realm: another source of people and plunder for his war machine."[/color][/b] 

Her face was flushed. Anybody who reached out to sense her energy could plainly feel the heightened pulse within her. [color=0054a6][b]"Maybe you have heard that I'm called 'The Ghost' by some. It is because I lived the past fourteen years under house arrest, except for when I was to be trotted out for the odd function. Godsdammit!"[/b][/color] she cursed. [color=0054a6][b]"I escaped a few months ago. I came here because it was beyond the reach of the law, beyond the reach of his many, [i]many [/i]friends... or so I thought."[/b][/color] She shook her head, as Onarr was healed behind them and cleanup efforts continued. [color=0054a6][b]"My goal was to recruit loyal Segonese - we're good sailors - and to start building a resistance. It was to free myself, win back my throne, and free my people."[/b][/color] She shook her head tightly, wrapping arms around her small figure. 

[color=0054a6][b]"But the bastard knew, or he found out."[/b][/color] She sighed shakily. [color=0054a6][b]"When he couldn't find me, thanks to my friends here, he decided to use my name."[/b][/color] Her fists clenched open and closed. [color=0054a6][b]"The Maria Nera is not my ship,"[/b][/color] she hissed. [color=0054a6][b]"But that she were: what I could do with her!"[/b][/color] She breathed a bit more calmly. [b][color=0054a6]"She is a fabrication of the Doge: a false flag creweed by his own people meant to make me an outlaw and a danger so that he can justify eliminating me without being named kinslayer."[/color][/b] She laughed bitterly. [color=0054a6][b]"Ever question why the Nera sinks all the ships that she catches? Why nobody but the most loyal Revidians have ever seen her? Why [i]every. single. target.[/i] is Revidian?"[/b][/color] Her face scrunched up and she half-turned towards the waterfront, off in the direction of The Main. [color=0054a6][b]"Ask the Dorvalish, if you don't believe me."[/b][/color] she begged, [color=0054a6][b]"Ask them about the registry of the ships that went missing: all Prospero's ships and his friends' ships. Ask them about the prices of goods that soared from the thefts, about who stocked up on those right before the ships were 'plundered' and 'sunk'."[/b][/color]

Dazed, she sat on a curb. [color=0054a6][b]"Gods, we've been played. All of us: you, me, my allies."[/b][/color] She exhaled, shaking her head in disbelief. [color=0054a6][b]"Hugo Hunghorasz and the Doge are friend, or else they pretend to be, at arm's length, for the sake of mutual interest."[/b][/color] She chewed on her lower lip nervously. [color=0054a6][b]"You were sent to retrieve me so that I would poke my head out of hiding. He had his people ready to pounce. News travels very quickly here."[/b][/color] She gestured at the carnage around them, silhouetted against the backdrop of a slowly lightening sky. [color=0054a6][b]"Then we have this fight and the evil rotten crew of the 'Nera' - myself and you - lay waste to the town and prove that I need to be stopped. We were supposed to have lost to those Black Rezaindians Prospero sent, I imagine: those men and women of faith, sent to bring me to justice."[/b][/color] She looked up at the others. [color=0054a6][b]"We're patsies,[/b][/color] she said simply. [color=0054a6][b]"He outplayed us, and now I'm sure the Nera will be coming, loaded with whatever Black Rezaindians, pirates, and mercenary mages his money can muster."[/b][/color]

Amelia of Segona rose and dusted herself off. [b][color=0054a6]"I am going to fight them, one way or another, with or without you.[/color][/b] She backed away once more, fishing a whistle from the folds of her dress and blowing it in a distinct high-pitched pattern. The sound reverberated through the air, enhanced by liberal use of sonic magic. [b][color=0054a6]"But I will die,"[/color][/b] the princess concluded, [b][color=0054a6]"by my own hand if need be - for I will not let anymore shed blood for me unless they offer it freely. I will [i]die [/i]before I let you take me."[/color][/b] 

They shuffled into the plaza by the waterfront, then: first a handful, then ten, then dozens. Some had already been there, among the growing crowd, among the rescuers and accusers. They began to gather around their rightful queen. [color=0054a6][b]"But there is another way,"[/b][/color] she offered. [color=0054a6][b]"I know I've no right to ask you, but I [i]can [/i]promise rich reward should we win the day."[/b][/color] She smirked. [color=0054a6][b]"The Nera's winnings are substantial indeed, and whatever does not go to fund our war effort would be yours to do whatever you wished with."[/b][/color]

It was Ismette who spoke first. [color=6ecff6][b]"Say we [i]do[/i] trust you,"[/b][/color] she said. [color=6ecff6][b]"And get involved in your war."[/b][/color] She glanced between Amelia and her fellow students. [color=6ecff6][b]"How is this not a suicide mission? Why not run? Cut your losses, get safe, and live to fight another day? I mean..."[/b][/color] She glanced around and tilted her head to one side, not entirely unsympathetic. [color=6ecff6][b]"You don't even have a ship."[/b][/color]

[color=ec008c][b]"That's... not strictly true,"[/b][/color] said a particularly greasy-looking pirate, stepping through the crowd. It was Xavier Falzon, the Dorvalish pirate from The Main. He crossed his arms, eyes flicking over to Ingrid and Onarr. [color=ec008c][b]"Sorry for rippin' yeh off before. Thought you was against the Princess here."[/b][/color] He cleared his throat as a few more of his crew came up behind him. [b][color=ec008c]"I'd have preferred not to, but the Nera's market manipluation's gotta stop. Plus, I gave Lady Amelia my word and Xavier Falzon is a man who... [i]usually [/i]keeps that."[/color][/b] He removed his hat and bowed his head slightly. [color=ec008c][b]St. Elmo's Fyre is at your service, my lady."[/b][/color]

[hider=Ketch of the Day]Before anybody could say anything, however, the sound of cannonfire reverberated across the water. A pair of ships - it looked like a large snow towing a smaller ketch - that had been nearing the port for some time drew closer, smoke rising from one of the former's guns. On board, at the wheel, was a solitary - and solitary-legged - figure. She jumped up and down and, amplified by sonic manipulation, her voice carried across the water. [color=f7976a][b]"Desmond!"[/b][/color] it called. [color=f7976a][b]"Deeeeessssmooooonnnnnd!"[/b][/color] The echo took a moment to fade. [color=f7976a][b]"I brought you a ship, captain!"[/b][/color] One could sense the grin in Penny's voice, even if it could not be seen. She pointed to the six-gun ketch, packed full of high explosives. [color=f7976a][b]"It's the lil' one![/b][/color][/hider]
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